College Basketball DFS Picks for Saturday, November 8
The air is cool and crisp: Fall weather. Some may call it "football weather," but it is the first Saturday for the next five months that will be consumed by college basketball. Because of all the Friday games (and football), this Saturday slate is not quite as full as what is to come.
We do have a pair of marquee matchups: the early slate has Alabama visiting Madison Square Garden and St. John's. The teams have not met since 1982 when Red Storm coach Rick Pitino was in his third year as the coach of Boston University. Keep an eye on the injury report because both teams have guards who are game-time decisions (Dylan Darling for St. John's; Latrell Wrightsell and Aden Holloway for the Tide).
The evening schedule is highlighted by coach John Calipari bringing his Arkansas Razorbacks to face Michigan State in East Lansing. Coach Cal holds a 3-2 series edge over coach Tom Izzo, but the Spartans won the last match up in 2023 when Calipari was at Kentucky. Arkansas may be without Karter Knox, which could lead to some openings in the paint for Sparty.
College Basketball DFS Top Players
Amani Hansberry, F, Virginia Tech ($9,600)
In the early season, people must figure out if early box scores are real or a mirage. Hansberry posted 19 points and 13 rebounds in the opener against Charleston Southern in just 21 minutes. Providence is a step up in competition and has bigs such as Duncan Powell ($4,100) and Oswin Erhunmwunse ($5,800) to slow down the 6-foot-8 junior. Hansberry, who transferred to Virginia Tech from West Virginia, will prove that the opening night line was solid.
Labaron Philon, G, Alabama ($9,000)
As noted above, the Crimson Tide have some injury issues in their backcourt. Wrightsell and Holloway may play against St. John's. Even if they do, the ball will be in Phalon's hands. The 6-foot-4 junior had an excellent debut with 22 points on 9-of-13 from the field with eight assists against North Dakota. The Red Storm may try to press Philon a bit more, but that will lead to openings for his teammates and plenty of helpers for the superstar guard.
Graham Ike, F, Gonzaga ($8,000)
Ike is one of the most consistent players in the nation. He is coming off a superlative junior season in which he averaged 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in 23.0 minutes. Ike also played 23 minutes in the opener against Texas Southern and put up 13 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. As long as the home whistle is friendly, Ike should view the step up in competition against Oklahoma as an opportunity to put his stamp on the early season.
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Middle Tier
Tariq Ingraham, F, Memphis ($6,200)
Memphis is one of the few teams that has not played yet this season. With their complete roster turnover from last year, there are many mystery players in their midst. Ingraham joined Memphis in September as a graduate transfer after playing the last three seasons with Rider. He has a nose for offensive boards and snagged 2.8 with the Broncs last season on his way to 7.0 rebounds to go along with 10.9 points. San Francisco does not have much experience in the frontcourt, so expect the 6-foot-9, 255-pound Ingraham take advantage.
Tyrone Marshall Jr., F, George Washington ($6,000)
Marshall opened his Revolutionary career with 13 points and 12 rebounds in the win over Maine on Monday. Those numbers provide a pleasant uptick from the 6-foot-8 forward's last two seasons with Western Kentucky (10.4 points, 6.6 rebounds in 2024-25), but he may be able to equal them in GWU's national debut on Peacock against South Florida in an intriguing matchup. Marshall could be part of a Revolutionary "big three" with Luke Hunger ($5,400) and Christian Jones ($4,800) .
ArDarius Grayson, G, Weber State ($5,800)
Grayson, a 6-foot-1 freshman guard, nearly put up a triple-double in his first game with the Wildcats. Granted, the big game - nine points, seven rebounds and eight assists - was against the West Coast Baptist Eagles, but that kind of production can not be dismissed. He made a Weber State connection by playing on Damian Lillard's AAU team. Utah will look to show state dominance, but Grayson will show that the first game was not a fluke.
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College Basketball DFS Value Plays
Jason Edwards, G, Providence ($4,400)
Edwards was a big-time scorer for Vanderbilt last year. He led the Commodores with 17.0 points, and he scored more than 20 points in 10 games. Edwards had a season-high 30 points in a December win over TCU. While he was limited to 11 points in the opener, look for the 6-foot-1 senior to bounce back against Virginia Tech, which allowed Charleston Southern guard Brycen Blaine to go for 22 points and eight boards.
Oziyah Sellers, G, St. John's ($4,400)
With backup Dylan Darling ($6,400) questionable with a calf injury, the onus will be on Sellers to control the Red Storm offense. He had a middling game in 24 minutes in the opener against Quinnipiac with six points, five assists and two steals. The 6-foot-5 senior was with Stanford last season where he averaged 13.7 points. He will be counted on to score more against Alabama. His history has shown that he can do so, while keeping his St. John's teammates involved.
Kennard Davis Jr., F, BYU ($3,600)
With all of the stars of BYU are well known (led by A.J. Dybantsa ($9,700)), Davis can get overlooked. The Southern Illinois transfer played 34 minutes in the opening win over Villanova and provided solid defense, but just six points and two rebounds. The 6-foot-6 forward can score, and he put up 16.3 points with the Salukis last season. Look for Holy Cross to put all its defensive attention on Dybantsa and Richie Saunders ($8,600), allowing Davis to get plenty of open looks.
